Abstract: A method for sorting a data table is provided. The method may include providing a plurality of attribute value information for each data block of the data table. The method may also include receiving a query requiring a sorting on the first attribute of the data table. The method may further include determining a plurality of sequences of a plurality of data blocks having disjoint value ranges of the first attribute based on the provided plurality of attribute value information. The method may also include, for each determined sequence of the plurality of data blocks, reading a plurality of data, sorting the read plurality of data from each data block, and concatenating the sorted plurality of data from the plurality of data blocks within the determined sequence, thereby providing a sorted plurality of sequences. The method may further include merging the sorted plurality of sequences.

Abstract: A method and concomitant apparatus for compressing, multiplexing and, in optional embodiments, encrypting, transporting, decrypting, decompressing and presenting high quality video information in a manner that substantially preserves the fidelity of the video information in a system utilizing standard quality circuits to implement high quality compression, transport and decompression.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preserving the dynamic range of a relatively high dynamic range information stream, illustratively a high resolution video signal, subjected to a relatively low dynamic range encoding and/or transport process(es). A relatively high dynamic range information stream is subjected to a segmentation and remapping process whereby each segment is remapped to the relatively low dynamic range appropriate to the encoding and/or transport process(es) utilized. An auxiliary information stream includes segment and associated remapping information such that the initial, relatively high dynamic range information stream may be recovered in a post-encoding (i.e. decoding) or post-transport (i.e., receiving) process.